UDAN scheme makes regional air travel affordable, but limited seats mean early booking is key
March 6, 2026: For decades, air travel in India was considered a luxury, but the government’s regional connectivity initiative UDAN Scheme (Ude Desh Ke Aam Nagrik) has been steadily changing that perception. Launched to make flying affordable and connect smaller cities to the national aviation network, the programme allows passengers to book certain one-hour regional flights for around ₹2500. The scheme was introduced to improve connectivity to underserved towns while reviving unused or underutilised airports across the country. As a result, many regions that earlier depended only on long road or rail journeys now have faster air links.
To make the low fares viable for airlines, the government provides financial support through viability gap funding. Under this model, if airlines do not earn enough revenue on a subsidised route, the government compensates the difference to cover operational costs. However, the ₹2500 fare does not apply to every seat. Typically, only about half the seats on these flights are offered at the capped price, while the remaining tickets are sold at regular market rates. Travellers therefore need to book early to secure the discounted fare, as subsidised seats often sell out weeks in advance.
The scheme continues to expand with strong government backing. In the Union Budget 2026, around ₹550 crore was allocated for the programme, with plans for a broader ₹30,000 crore expansion to extend connectivity over the next decade. The government aims to add about 120 new destinations and bring nearly four crore more passengers into the aviation network. So far, the initiative has enabled more than 649 routes connecting over 93 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, gradually making air travel more accessible to ordinary citizens across India.